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44
The Public Health Committee have given the matter most
careful consideration, and they are strongly of opinion, apart
from the fact that they are advised it is no part of their duty to
undertake and provide facilities for such bathing, that it is
objectionable to bring school children to a disinfecting depot for
this or any other purpose, and that the bathing and cleansing of
such children should be provided for on premises in connection
with the Schools. In any case, they object to children being
brought here for such treatment without the previous knowledge
and consent of their parents.
Having regard to all the circumstances, the Committee have
decided not to undertake the bathing of any more of these
children, and I am directed to so inform the Head Masters of all
the Schools in this Borough, and to request that for the present
at all events, no more such children shall be sent here.
May I ask you to kindly make this known to the Head
Mistress and other members of your staff.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
John Foot,
Chief Sanitary Inspector.
20th December, 1907.
There for the moment the matter rests.
Obviously, where interference with children in such a matter
as this is concerned, the greatest discretion requires to be
exercised, and the thing should be done thoughtfully and with
some tact. To rush the children off to the Sanitary Inspector
without notice or the previous knowledge or consent of the
parents, seemed, apart from the kid-napping aspect, to be just
the way to arouse the most bitter opposition and to cause a
violent reaction to our efforts in this and other directions.